Means for pulling posts



Dec. 5, 1961 ANTlcl 3,011,764

MEANS FOR PULLING POSTS Filed Jan. 21, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet l 53 e7 49 4! s9 43 l5 0 1 O o l IN VENTOR.

Murino Antici Dec. 5, 1961 q 3,011,764

MEANS FOR PULLING POSTS INVENTOR.

Merino Amjci Dec. '5, 1961 M. ANTlCl 3,011,764

MEANS FOR PULLING POSTS Filed Jan. 21, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a I e? w IN VENTOR.

Mdrino Antici PIC-3.6 BY

United States Patent 3,011,764 MEANS FOR PULLING POSTS Marine Antici, 1404 Rose Circle, Clarirsdale, Miss. Filed Jan. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 3,916

7 Claims. (Cl. 254-132) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in means for'pulling posts to extract them from the ground, particularly adapted for use in farms and other similar places where it is desirable to remove, replace or relocate fences, and in more particular relates to post pulling means which may be adapted for use as an attachment with a conventional farm tractor. More particularly this invention relates to an attachment adapted for utilization in connection with pulling of posts which may be mounted upon the conventional draw bar and lift frame elements of a tractor, and which is adapted for the purpose of effectively, quickly and efficiently pulling posts as desired.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel means for pulling posts.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a post pulling means which is devised as a removable attachment for connection with a conventional farm tractor.

A further object of the invention is to provide such post pulling means which comprises a tapered trapezoidal frame of upwardly diverging construction supported upon the lift members of the conventional lift construction of a tractor and adapted to compress the post pulling grabber arms of the attachment.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the post pulling arms of the attachment are hinged for lateral or horizontal movement upon a fixture.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the fixture, to which the post pulling arms are horizontally fixed, is pivotally fixed to the tractor for upward and downward oscillation.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device which includes means for temporarily and re leasably latching the post engaging arms in partially elevated condition; and

A further object of the invention is generally to improve the design, construction and efiiciency of means for pulling posts.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the attachment of the present invention connected with a conventional tractor.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale illustrating the post pulling means of the present invention in lowered condition, as for example for releasing a pulled post or preparatory to subsequent post pulling.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the postengaging grabber arms in latched position, showing in dotted lines part of the lifting frame positioned to elevate the arms to latched position, and in full lines the frame lowered again to position away from supporting the grabber arms.

FIG. 4 is a further view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the position of the elements of the present device with the grabber arms engaging a post and having elevated the same above ground engagement.

FIG. 5 is a rear View illustrating the grabber arms in the position shown in FIG. 3.

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FIG. 6 is a rear view illustrating the position of the elements preparatory to removing an engaged post.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the present device.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, the device of the present invention is adapted to be removably connected with the conventional fixtures with which a farm tractor is furnished.

Thus a tractor l1 includin rear wheels 13 is provided with a bracket 15 which is rigidly fixed to the rear axle and transmission housing of the tractor. Bracket 15' is preferably suitably apertured as at 17, 18 and 19 for the reception of attachment pins for the detachable connection of devices to the bracket and thus to tractor 1i.

Hingedly connected to bracket 15 as by a pin 21 extended through apertures 19 is a grabber arm fixture 23, the hinged connection of fixture 23 permitting movement of fixture 23 in an up and down oscillating or swinging movement about pin 21. Fixed to fixture 23 rearwardly of pin 21 is a pin 24 which at its respective outer ends is spaced from fixture 23 by collars 25, and collars 25 being turnable relative to pin 24.

Rigidly fixed to the collars 25, preferably as by welding, and extending upwardly therefrom are the latch members 27, latch members 27 being interconnected preferably at their upper ends by a cross member 29. Each of latch members 27 along its forward edge is notched to provide a latch notch having an upper shoulder 31, the notches 33 tapering downwardly from shoulders 31 to merge into the forward edge of the latch members 27. It will be seen that the latch members 27 together with the notches and shoulders 31, 33 and cross member 29 comprise a latch assembly 35, with latch assembly 35 being swingably mounted upon pin 24 in virtue of the connection of latch members 27 to collars 25.

Rearwardly of its attachment to bracket 15, fixture 23 is provided with a connector plate 37 which is disposed perpendicularly to the main body of fixture 23 and provides among other things an abutment preventing the swinging movement of latch assembly 35 rearwardly beyond upright position. Connector plate 37 at its outer ends is provided with a pair of sockets 39 which are adapted respectively to be embraced by upper and lower attachment plates 41 which are respectively rigidly connected with grabber arms 43 at the forward ends of the grabber arms. The forward ends of grabber arms 43 are connected with fixture 23 by means of pins 45 so that each of the grabber arms 43 is laterally swingably connected with the fixture 23.

Intermediate sockets 39 fixture 23 includes a spacer member 47 rigidly connected with fixture 23 and extending rearwardly from connector plate 37 between grabber arms 43. Spacer 47 is effective to prevent lateral over-swinging of the grabber arms inwardly toward each other so as to maintain at least a minimum spacing between grabber arms 43 when the device is mounted as described.

Each of grabber arms 43 extends rearwardly from its swinging connection to fixture 23, and at its rear end is provided with an outwardly flared tip 45 so that the rearmost ends of grabber arms 43 diverge apart providing an entrance opening between the grabber arms. Adjacent but slightly forward of flared tips 49 each of grabber arms 43 is provided with a post-engaging area which is preferably formed by mounting an angle section 51 on the respective grabber arms, with the apices of angle sections 51 being positioned so as to be directed toward the opposing grabber arm. Thus it will be seen that the apices of sections 51 are presented for more positive engagement with a post to be pulled, thus insuring a superior grabbing engagement therewith.

Angle sections 51 extend along a portion of the rear part of the length of grabber arms 43 forwardly of tips 49. Forwardly of angle sections 51, grabber arms 43 extend through a more or less vertically disposed tapered frame 53 which is a trapezoidal frame preferably and includes a pair of downwardly converging, or conversely, upwardly diverging side legs 55. At their upper ends legs 55 are interconnected by a top member 57 and at their lower ends legs 55 are preferably interconnected by a bottom member 59.

Tapered frame 53 is preferably detachably mounted upon the lift mechanism of a conventional farm tractor 11, represented here by the pivoted arms 61, to which are connected intermediate their lengths, as by clevices 63, the lift arms 65 which are connected in conventional fashion with the lift mechanism of the tractor. It will be understood that the lift mechanism and means, which are designated by the arms 61, 65 just referred to, are of substantially conventional construction adapted to be operated by a farm tractor 11, and it is not believed that further details of the construction and operation of the same are necessary as they are well known to persons versed in the art.

Included in the lift means is preferably a cross bar 67 connected to the rearward ends of pivoted arms 61, and upon cross bar 67 bottom member 59 of frame 53 is detachably mounted. Thus frame 53 may be raised and lowered by the operation of the lift means comprising arms 61, 65 and cross bar 67 upon the operation of the lift mechanism of the tractor.

The top member 57 of frame 53 is provided with a pair of upstanding ears 69 to which is connected one end of a strut 71, the other and forward end of strut 71 being connected to bracket 15 as by an upper pin 73, pin '73 being extended through the uppermost apertures 17 in bracket 15, and outwardly of bracket 15 the pin 73 is provided with spacer collars 75.

It will be seen that when grabber arms 43 are elevated, latch assembly 35 under the influence of gravity shifts forwardly and latch notches 33 move over collar 75 on upper pin 73, the engagement of latch shoulders 31 with collar 75 effectively detachably latching grabber arms 43 in a partially elevated condition against downward movement although the arms continue laterally swingable. In order to insure the gravity operation of latch assembly 35, and also to provide a handle for manual manipulation of the latch assembly, assembly 35 includes a handle member 77 which extends upwardly above the cross member 29 and includes an outwardly and forwardly projecting hand portion 79. As can be seen, since the handle 77 and its hand portion 79 project forwardly of latch assembly 35, the handle is effctive to gravity bias the latch assembly for movement toward the tractor or forwardly of the device here in question.

In the use and operation of the device, grabber arm fixture 23 is hinged to bracket 15 by pin 21. Thereafter pin 21 is suitably fixed in position as by a conventional cotter key or other similar retaining means. With the ture so mounted grabber arms 43 extended through tapered frame 53 may be hinged to fixture 23 by the insertion of pins 4-5 through the apertures in attachment plates 41 and sockets 39. Strut 71 may then be connected to bracket 15 as by pin 73, with spacer collars 75 being positioned outwardly of bracket 15, and at its rearward end connected to ears 69 on frame 53. Frame .53 may then be connected with the lift means comprising :arms 61, 65 and cross bar 67, which as heretofore described is connected with the lift mechanism of tractor ground for the purpose of supporting a fence or other means.

The lift mechanism is activated to elevate tapered frame 53 and to carry upwardly with it grabber arms 43. When the grabber arms have been elevated to approximately horizontal position, substantially as shown in FIG. 3, latch assembly 35 moves forwardly by gravity so as to engage latch shoulders 31 of latch notches 33 with collars 75 on pin 73, thus locking in a detachable manner the grabber arms in a partially elevated position. As frame 53 is elevated for lifting grabber arms 43, the downwardly converging nature of side legs 55 effect a compression or movement of grabber arms inwardly.

' The lift mechanism may thereafter be lowered so as to lower frame 55 away from the arms, releasing the compressing eifect upon grabber arms 43 which are now latched in partially elevated condition at an approximately horizontal level.

The tractor and the post pulling attachment may then be driven rearwardly toward a post I, flared arm tips 49 providing an entrance between swingably supported grabher arms 43 so as to insure the entrance of post P between arms 43. When the device has been driven to the point where angle sections 51 of arms 43 are in engagement with post P, rearward movement of the tractor and attachment is stopped, and the lift mechanism of the tractor is again activated in order to elevate frame 53 to move upwardly, with the converging portions of side legs 55 engaging against grabber arms 43 forcing the same into grabbing engagement with post P. Thereafter lifting is continued and the force is exerted to elevate and extract post P from its mounting in the ground.

After the post has been removed from the ground under engagement by the grabber arms and the lifting efiect of the lift mechanism of the tractor the tractor may be moved forwardly slightly, the latch assembly 35 released by manual operation of handle 77, the lift mechanism permitted again to lower, dropping downwardly frame 53, releasing the compressing engagement of the grabber arms against the post P, and as the lower end of the extracted post P strikes the ground freeing the same from the entire mechanism.

It has been found that this attachment provides a quick, facile and easy means for the extraction of posts from the ground, and that the same is particularly eflicient in farm operations permitting the operator of a farm quickly to shift his pasture fences and similar enclosures from one area to another in order to provide for rotation of spaces in use.

I claim:

1. In combination with a farm tractor which includes lift means, post pulling means comprising a grabber arm fixture oscillatably connected to the rear of said tractor for up and down oscillation, a pair of grabber arms respectively hinged to said fixture for lateral swinging movement relative to said fixture and said tractor, each said grabber arm at its rear end remote from said tractor having an outwardly flared tip, said tips diverging outwardly apart to provide a post entrance between said arms, latch means connected to said fixture releasably latching said arms in elevated condition, a tapered trapezoidally shaped frame connected to said lift means rearward of said fixture, said frame including a pair of downwardly converging spaced apart legs, said arms being extended between and beyond said legs, upward lifting of said frame relative to said arms compressing said arms into proximity, a spacer carried by and extending rearwardly from said fixture, said spacer being between said arms and effective to prevent overswinging of said arms under frame compressing to insure maintenance of said entrance, said arms being laterally swingable within the confines of said frame for loosely embracing a post to be pulled, frame compressing of said arms tightly engaging said arms with the post to be pulled, whereby continued lifting of said frame is effective to further elevate said arms and an engaged post for extraction of the post from the ground, each said arm rearward of said frame and forward of said tip including a post engaging section having an apex directed toward the opposite arm to enhance post engagement.

2. In combination with a farm tractor which includes lift means, post pulling means comprising a grabber arm fixture oscillatably connected to the rear of said tractor for up and down oscillation, a pair of grabber arms respectively hinged to said fixture for lateral swinging movement relative to said fixture and said tractor, each said grabber arm at its rear and remote from said tractor having an outwardly flared tip, said tips diverging outwardly apart to provide a post entrance between said arms, latch means connected to said fixture releasably latching said arms in elevated condition, a tapered trapezoidally shaped frame connected to said lift means rearward of said fixture, said frame including a pair of downwardly converging spaced apart legs, said arms being extended between and beyond said legs, upward lifting of said frame relative to said arms compressing said arms into proximity, said arms being laterally swingable within the confines of said frame for loosely embracing a post to be pulled, frame compressing of said arms tightly engaging said arms with the post to be pu led, whereby continued lifting of said frame is efiective to further elevate said arms and an engaged post for extraction of the post from the ground, each said arm rearward of said frame and forward of said tip including a post engaging section having an apex directed toward the opposite arm to enhance post engagement.

3. In combination with a farm tractor which includes lift means, post pulling means comprising a grabber arm fixture oscillatably connected to the rear of said tractor for up and down oscillation, a pair of grabber arms respectively hinged to said fixture for lateral swinging movement relative to said fixture and said tractor, each said grabber arm at its rear end remote from said tractor having an outwardly flared tip, said tips diverging outwardly apart to provide a post entrance between said arms, latch means connected to said fixture releasably latching said arms in elevated condition, a tapered frame connected to said lift means rearward of said fixture, said frame including a pair of downwardly converging spaced apart legs, said arms being extended between and beyond said legs, upward lifting of said frame relative to said arms compressing said arms into proximity, said arms being laterally swingable within the confiines of said frame for loosely embracing a post to be pulled, frame compressing of said arms tightly engaging said arms with the post to be pulled, whereby continued lifting of said frame is effective to further elevate said arms and an engaged post for extraction of the post from the ground, each said arm rearward of said frame and forward of said tip including a section having an apex directed toward the opposite arm to enhance post engagement.

4. In combination with a farm tractor which includes lift means, post pulling means comprising a grabber arm fixture oscillatably connected to the rear of said tractor for up and down oscillation, a pair of grabber arms respectively hinged to said fixture for lateral swinging movement relative to said fixture and said tractor, each said grabber arm at its rear end remote from said tractor having an outwardly flared tip, said tips diverging outwardly apart to provide a post entrance between said arms, latch means connected to said fixture releasably latching said arms in elevated condition, a tapered frame connected to said lift means rearward of said fixture, said frame including a pair of downwardly converging spaced apart legs, said arms being extended between and beyond said legs, upward lifting of said frame relative to said arms compressing said arms into proximity, said arms being laterally swingable within the confines of said frame for loosely embracing a post to be pulled, frame compressing of said arms tightly engaging said arms with the post to be pulled, whereby continued lifting of said frame is effective to further elevate said arms and an engaged post for extraction of the post from the ground.

5. Post pulling means adapted for use with a farm tractor comprising a grabber arm fixture, means for oscillatably connecting said fixture to the rear of a said tractor for up and down oscillation, a pair of grabber ar-ms respectively hinged to said fixture for lateral swinging movement relative to said fixture, each said grabber arms at its rear end having an outwardly flared tip, said tips diverging outwardly apart to provide a post entrance between said arms, latch means connected to said fixture releasably latching said arms in elevated condition, a tapered frame rearward of said fixture, said frame including a pair of downwardly converging spaced apart legs, said arms being extended between and beyond said legs, upward lifting of said frame relative to said arms compressing said arms into proximity, said arms being laterally swingable within the confines of said frame for loosely embracing a post to be pulled, frame compressing of said arms tightly engaging said arms with the post to be pulled, whereby continued lifting of said frame is effective to further elevate said arms and an engaged post for extraction of the post from the ground.

6. Post pulling means adapted for use with a farm tractor comprising a grabber arm fixture, means for oscillatably connecting said fixture to the rear of a said tractor for up and down oscillation, a pair of grabber arms respectively hinged to said fixture for lateral swinging movement relative to said fixture, said grabber arms at their rear ends diverging outwardly apart to provide a post entrance between said arms, latch means connected to said fixture releasably latching said arms in elevated condition, a tapered frame rearward of said fixture, said frame including a pair of downwardly converging spaced apart legs, said arms being extended between and beyond said legs, upward lifting of said frame relative to said arms compressing said arms into proximity, said arms being laterally swingable within the confines of said frame for loosely embracing a post to be pulled, frame compressing of said arms tightly engaging said arms with the post to be pulled, whereby continued lifting of said frame is effective to further elevate said arms and an engaged post of extraction of the post from the ground.

7. In combination with a farm tractor which includes lift means, post pulling means comprising a grabber arm fixture oscillatably connected to the rear of said tractor for up and down oscillation, a pair of grabber arms respectively hinged to said fixture for lateral swinging movement relative to said fixture and said tractor, said grabber arms at their rear ends remote from said tractor diverging outwardly apart to provide a post entrance between said arms, latch means connected to said fixture releasably latching said arms in elevated condition, a tapered frame connected to said lift means rearward of said fixture, said frame including a pair of downwardly converging spaced apart legs, said arms being extended between and beyond said legs, upward lifting of said frame relative to said arms compressing said arms into proximity, said arms being laterally swingable Within the confines of said frame for loosely embracing a post to be pulled, frame compressing of said arms tightly engaging said arms with the post to be pulled, whereby continued lifting of said frame is effective to further elevate said arms and an engaged post for extraction of the post from the ground.

References fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

